A synopsis of the palms of Puerto RicoCook, O. F. (Orator Fuller)
Science
A synopsis of the palms of Puerto Rico
Cook, O. F. (Orator Fuller)
Palms -- Puerto Rico
The leaves are characterized by the narrow straight-sided segments which
retain the same width (15 mm. or less) for about 11 cm.; they are united
in the middle of the leaf for about 8 cm. and the apical tapering part
is about the same length. Other species, so far as known, have the
segments much broader, both absolutely and relatively, and the width is
held for a very much smaller proportion of the length.
In addition the midrib is unusually weak, inconspicuous and only
slightly prominent on the lower side. The small fibro-vascular bundles
which compose it are sometimes spread apart so that there is scarcely an
indication of a rib while in other segments of the same leaf, and
especially at the base, the conditions are more normal. The midrib is
sufficiently distinct above, though very small and fine in comparison
with other species.
Lower surface of leaf glabrous or somewhat glaucous, very slightly
puberulous on the depressed veins near the base. Veinlets inconspicuous,
mostly subequal, though 4 or 5 are sometimes a little larger than the
others. Transverse veinlets indistinct below.
Petiole slender, 4 mm. wide, lenticular in cross section; about 2 mm.
thick. Ligule small and weak, short, with a small apical mucro.
Fruits 5 mm. in diameter, olive brown, irregularly rugose-coriaceous on
the outside as though dried from a pulpy condition; exocarp with a
slightly sweetish taste. Seed bright mahogany-brown, darker below,
depressed-globose, with a sublateral raphe; embryo ascending but more
nearly lateral than vertical; conical basal cavity extending somewhat
above the center, nearly filled with a deep red material.
At the time of our visit in July no ripe fruits of _T. Ponceana_ were
found on the trees, but a few picked up from the ground are apparently
indistinguishable from those of Sintenis’ specimen.
=Thrincoma= gen. nov.
Trunk slender, tapering, flexible; wood firm, covered by a smooth hard
brittle outer shell or bark.
Leaf-bases long-sheathing, expanded by the separation of the fibers of
the side opposite the midrib; petiole strongly flattened above the
base, prominently angled above and below; ligule large and firm,
produced laterally to support the outer divisions.
Leaf-divisions narrow, separated below the middle and below the point
of greatest width; texture firm and coriaceous; veinules subequal,
close together, cross-veinules obsolete. Lower surface clothed with
persistent closely appressed hairs, the upper coated with wax when
young.
Seeds with few longitudinal grooves, the surface not polished,
grayish; embryo subapical.
The generic name alludes to the preference of this palm for the summits
of crags and the brows of perpendicular cliffs which abound in the
limestone region of the north side of Puerto Rico.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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